Hakoya-8https://hakomata.jp/en
Just another WordPress siteSun, 13 May 2018 09:37:14 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8https://i1.wp.com/hakomata.jp/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/sologo.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1Hakoya-8https://hakomata.jp/en
323270554191Brief overview about Kiseru – Japanese smoking pipeshttps://hakomata.jp/en/2017/06/brief-overview-kiseru-japanese-smoking-pipes/
https://hakomata.jp/en/2017/06/brief-overview-kiseru-japanese-smoking-pipes/#respondTue, 27 Jun 2017 13:13:39 +0000https://hakomata.jp/?p=484Here is a summary about Kiseru, Japanese traditional smoking pipes. 1. Arrival of “smoke” to Japan and beginning of Kiseru Smoking is a custom originally from American continents – Columbus “found” this mysterious leaf utilized by native tribes for ritual ceremony and brought back to Europe in the end of 15c ~ beg of 16c. According to J.Goodman, it is assumed that tobacco got to be popular in Europe after 1570. On the other hand, it is said it arrived at Japan in the end of 16c(*1), it means that Tabaco consumption custom was spread from Europe to Japan in only 30 years or less.So, who brought tabacco to Japan […]

1. Arrival of “smoke” to Japan and beginning of Kiseru

Smoking is a custom originally from American continents – Columbus “found” this mysterious leaf utilized by native tribes for ritual ceremony and brought back to Europe in the end of 15c ~ beg of 16c. According to J.Goodman, it is assumed that tobacco got to be popular in Europe after 1570. On the other hand, it is said it arrived at Japan in the end of 16c(*1), it means that Tabaco consumption custom was spread from Europe to Japan in only 30 years or less.So, who brought tabacco to Japan first? It is not clear: European missionary? South-Eastern Asia? Korea/China? Anyway, it seems this is not far from the reality: “Origin is Americas >> came to Europe in beg of 16c >> got to be popular during 16c >> came to Asia/Japan in the end of 16c”.

Kiseru came to Japan together with tabaco, since it is smoking device. There are several theories about the origin of the word “kiseru”. One says it is from “khsier”(=pipe) of Cambodian language, or other mentions the relation with “que sorber” of Portuguese / Spanish. (*2)

*1 Pedro de Burguillos, a Franciscan, visited Japan in 1601 to establish good relationship with the new leader Ieyasu Tokugawa and brought tobacco as medicine. His visit report says tobacco already existed in Japan at that time. (the report is in Royal Museum in Spain.)

*2 I personally think it is not the case, since “sorber” means “sip liquid” in current Spanish.

2.Kiseru, as a product

2-1 Structure

Here is the picture of the most popular one “Rau-Kiseru”.

Rau-Kiseru in the beginning is called “Koubone-gata”, which has bigger “fire plate”, thin and curved “goose-neck”, slim and longer Rau. It is changed to smaller fire-plate and shorter Rau thanks to advanced tobacco processing which realized “Hoso-kizami”, extreme-thin-cut tobacco as hair.Another Kiseru type is “Nobe-Kiseru”, which is made only of metal (silver, copper, tin or other material). During Edo period, Kiseru got to be not only a smoking device, but also a sort of accessory to express his/her social status and then Nobe-Kiseru was good because it has more surface to put artistic arrangements on it.

2-2 Types of Kiseru

<div

As mentioned, it is considered that the smoking custom got popular among Japanese people from end 16c ~ beg of 17c. This period was exactly in the evolution from Warring State to Edo “long peace” Period. The society was not stable and therefore Kabuki-mono came up, who are kind of gangster group and ended up as the origin of Kabuki art. Kabuki-mono, as extraordinary/avant-guard lifestyle lover, were attracted to tobacco smoking culture, and also found that Kiseru is good item for self-expression. There are 2 representative model: one is ca.1m long “Hanami-Kiseru (Date-Kiseru)”, and another is all-steel-made “Kenka-kiseru”(fighting-kiseru), which was used as weapon since Kabuki-mono were not allowed to carry sword with.

Other typical Kiserus are: Tazuna-gata kiseru designed from Shime nawa, Flat stype “Natamame Kiseru”. One of the most strange one is “Meoto-Kiseru”, which the stem can be separated so that 2 people can smoke from 1 pipe at the same time (see above beautiful drawing)

Copper Tazuna-style Kiseru. This is typical shape in the end of Edo period. It is also used by Ishikawa Goemon – legendary thief – in Kabuki.

]]>
https://hakomata.jp/en/2017/06/brief-overview-kiseru-japanese-smoking-pipes/feed/0484What is the difference of Japanese and Western knives?https://hakomata.jp/en/2017/06/what-is-the-difference-of-japanese-and-western-knives/
https://hakomata.jp/en/2017/06/what-is-the-difference-of-japanese-and-western-knives/#respondTue, 27 Jun 2017 13:13:34 +0000https://hakomata.jp/?p=453Before I tried to explain the physical difference between Western and Japanese kitchen knives with below illustration. …but I got further question from a friend: a.Is the difference optically visible? b.Is the actual sharpness different? The guy said that he cannot be convinced that Japanese kitchen knives are great without clarifying those. If it cuts, it’s fine! Yeah I agree with it. So here I try to show the difference from my viewpoint. a.Is the difference optically visible? Please see below picture. It is Henkel’s multi-purpose knife (which my wife gave me some years ago :)). As you see, the blade body is plain and flat, and it stays until […]

]]>Before I tried to explain the physical difference between Western and Japanese kitchen knives with below illustration. …but I got further question from a friend:

a.Is the difference optically visible?

b.Is the actual sharpness different?

The guy said that he cannot be convinced that Japanese kitchen knives are great without clarifying those. If it cuts, it’s fine! Yeah I agree with it. So here I try to show the difference from my viewpoint.

a.Is the difference optically visible?

Please see below picture. It is Henkel’s multi-purpose knife (which my wife gave me some years ago :)). As you see, the blade body is plain and flat, and it stays until the edge. And this is the Japanese one. It is multi-purpose knife by Sakai Kanechika, with Hagane(blade edge) of white II steel (about blade edge, here is the explanation). You can find clear difference between blade body (Jigane) part and the edge (Hagane). (“Shinogi” is another typical feature of Japanese knives, but it is different story for now.)

b.Is the actual sharpness different?

It is quite sensitive question, because the sharpness is not durable function. It depends so much on how to sharpen the edge. A well-forged knife with bad treatment should be less sharper than a bad knife with good sharpening, for example. But I can say that Japanese knives have been designed and developed focusing on sharpness, while westerns consider the balance of elasticity, durability and ease to produce. Anyway, I cut my favorite egg roll with spinach. …with above Henkel knife. There was no problem cutting the egg part, but the fiber of the spinach was too soft and elastic. …with Japanese forged knife (not above one but another from Tosa Yamada I use at home). I know it’s only an example, but I personally love this sharpness! By the way, my friend, are you already convinced?? :))